Renmin University of China; RUC, also known as People's University of China is a major research university in Haidian District, Beijing. Its campus neighbors those of Peking University and Tsinghua University. Renmin University is one of the most prestigious universities in China, with a distinct focus on humanities and social sciences. Renmin University has produced many influential figures in China's reform and development, and is home to many outstanding scholars in law, economics, journalism and other fields. As measured by admission scores of China's National Higher Education Entrance Examination, Renmin University has consistently ranked among the top three most selective Chinese universities in the liberal arts and social science division.

Peking University is a major research university located in Beijing, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China, founded as the "Imperial University of Peking" in 1898 as a replacement of the ancient Guozijian. By 1920 it had become a center for progressive thought. Today, Peking University is frequently placed as one of the best universities in China by many national and international rankings. In addition to academics, Peking University is especially renowned for its campus grounds, and the beauty of its traditional Chinese architecture. Throughout its history, the university has educated and hosted many prominent modern Chinese thinkers, including figures such as: Lu Xun, Mao Zedong, Gu Hongming, Hu Shih, Li Dazhao, and Chen Duxiu. Peking University was influential in the birth of China's New Culture Movement, May Fourth Movement, the Tiananmen Square protest of 1989 and many other significant events.

Nankai University is commonly known as Nankai, is a public research university based in Tianjin on mainland China. Founded in 1919 by educators Zhang Boling (1876-1951) and Yan Fansun (1860-1920), Nankai University is a member of the Nankai serial schools. It is the alma mater of former Chinese Premier and key historical figure Zhou Enlai. Nankai University is regarded as one of the top and first class universities in China.

Fudan University, located in Shanghai, is one of the oldest and most selective universities in China, and is a member of the C9 League and Universities 21. Its institutional predecessor was founded in 1905, shortly before the end of China's imperial Qing dynasty. Fudan University is composed of four campuses, including Handan, Fenglin, Zhangjiang, and Jiangwan. Starting from the 1950s, Fudan has enrolled international students — one of the first few institutions in China to do so. Since then, Fudan has accepted and trained over 10,000 foreign students from 100 countries and regions worldwide. At the end of 2006, there were 2,812 international students studying at Fudan University, ranked number 2 in the nation. Half of them were actively pursuing degrees, the rest were general visiting scholars. In addition, Fudan enrolls over 1700 short-term students each year.

Liaoning University is one of the key universities listed in the nation's "Project 211" and affirmed by the Ministry of Education. Altogether, the University has forty-three undergraduate disciplines, fifty-three master-degree-granting disciplines, including MBA and JM. The University is also invested with authority to grant doctorate of philosophy in theoretical economics (the first level discipline) and nine other doctorates (the second level discipline). Furthermore, the University has three mobile stations for post-doctoral studies to its credit, with two national key disciplines of world economy and national economy in addition to a base for cultivating personnel of basic national economy, and a key base for research on humanities, and a center of research on the system of comparative economy as designated by the Ministry of Education. The University has eleven province-level key disciplines and one test and detection center.

Jilin University is a leading national university under the direct jurisdiction of China’s Ministry of Education. Jilin University is one of the most prestigious “Top 10” universities in China, and has several research projects in automobile engineering, chemistry, computer science, electrical engineering and biology. JLU also provides undergraduate and graduate programs in law, literature, philosophy and veterinary science. It is one of the key universities involved in China’s Project 985 and Project 211.Jilin University is a comprehensive and national key university. JLU offers a variety of degree programs. It has now 115 undergraduate programs, 192 Master's degree program, 105 doctoral degree programs, and seventeen post-doctoral programs. In 2003 the university enrolled 59,000 full time students, including more than 10,000 graduate students. At present there are 6,540 faculty members, with twenty members of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, 1270 full professors, and 1652 associate professors.

Xiamen University is colloquially known as Xia Da, located in Xiamen, Fujian province, is the first university in China founded by overseas Chinese. Established by Mr. Tan Kah Kee in 1921, the university was originally known as the University of Amoy. The school motto is "Pursue Excellence, Strive for Perfection. The university is one of many comprehensive universities directly administered by the Chinese Ministry of Education. In 1995 it was included in the list of the 211 Project for the state key construction; in 2000 it became one of China’s higher-level universities designated for the state key construction of the 985 Project. According to University Undergraduates Teaching Assessment and Chinese Universities Evaluation Standings, the university is ranked 11th in China and has maintained the top 20 ranking in China, among which 6 subjects reach A++ level, including economics and management, music, law, chemistry, journalism, communication and mathematics.

SWUFE is a national key university under direct administration of the Ministry of Education and is listed in both “Project 211” and “985 Innovative Platforms for Key Disciplines Project ”of the Chinese government as part of the national endeavor to build world-class universities in the 21st century. It is also selected as one of the trial spots for nation-wide educational reform. Located in the city of Chengdu, SWUFE now has two campuses, the Guanghua Campus and the Liulin Campus. With an overall area of about 380 acres (or 2300 Chinese Mu), SWUFE is also known for its picturesque campus scenery.

Wuhan University is located in Wuhan, Hubei, China, and is administered by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. It was selected by both Project 985 and Project 211 as a major receiver of state fundings. The university is situated at Luojia Hill, with palatial buildings blending the Chinese and Western style. It was commonly regarded as one of the most beautiful campuses in China.

Nanjing University is one of the oldest universities in China. A comprehensive university, Nanjing is highly ranked among Chinese institutions of higher learning. It is a member of the C9 League and Yangtze Delta Universities Alliance. Following many changes through dynasties since CE 258, it was established as a modern new-type school in 1902 in the end period of Qing Dynasty, and became a modern university in the early 1920s, the early years of Republic of China, and is the first Chinese modern university with the combination of education and research. Before the eve of establishment of People's Republic of China in 1949, the name was changed from National Central University to Nanjing University. Nanjing University is a comprehensive research university. It is a national university directly under the Ministry of Education of PRC, largely financed by China central and also local Jiangsu provincial finance.